Coat shield



H. G. DUGAN COAT SHIELD Dec. 4, 1934.

Filed March 3l, 1935 O OOOOOOO Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

The'shield of the present invention is intended primarily, though not exclusively, for use as a shield for mens coats, and is intended. to be fitted into the arm pit of a coat or similar garment for the purpose of preventing the transmission of perspiration to the coat and of permitting ventilation through the shield in the vicinity of the arm pit.

With the above end in view, the shield is pref--y erably molded of rubber or rubberlike non-absorptive material in such a way as to give to the shield a permanent arch formation in cross section, which renders the shield self-sustaining at the arch or ridge between the inner and outer fiaps, and provides for more perfect ventilation which tends to promote the comfort of the wearer.

Further objects and details of the invention will appear from the description thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, where- 1n,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of. a simplified form of construction;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation through the center thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a ribbed form of construction;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through the center thereof;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a form similar to that of Figs. 3 and 4, with the addition of hard inserts in the ribs;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional viewof the same; and

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional View of a slightly modified form of construction.

In all forms of construction the body of the shield is of arch shaped configuration comprising side flaps 10 and a connecting, arch portion 11, giving to the shield as a whole the general form of a saddle, elevated at the ends and depressed in the center, to conform to the configurationv of the coat or other garment at the point where the sleeve unites with'the body of the garment beneath the arm pit.

The shield as a whole is of integral formation and is preferablyk molded from rubber or other rubberlike moisture proof material, and it is preferred to have the material slightly thickened on the arch so as to render this portion of the shieldv self-sustaining against collapse or creasing, and so as to maintain the intended curvature of the arch under all ordinary conditions.

The side flaps of the shield are relatively thin and iiexible to easily conform to the movements of the wearer, and the curvature of the arch portion serves to hold the two flaps properly distended to a degree suiiicient to easily bridge over the ridge at the juncture of the sleeve with the body of the garment.

In order to promote the circulation of air 6OtnrOugh the shield without permitting the absorption of moisture which would occur if an absorbent material were; employed, the' side flaps of the shield and also vthe arch thereof are provided wthvperforations 12 preferably arranged in straight vertically extending rows.

The shieldis held in place within the garment. by the provision of pairs of snap fasteners 13-#13l and 14-14 on the two side Vflaps near the lower edges thereof, which are adapted to co-operate with snap members suitably-positioned on the garment, and further attaching'. means in the` form ofV snapI fasteners l5-15 are provided at the upper ends of the arch, which arrangement permits the shield to be readily secured in place within the coat or other garment and held against displacement as the *arm of the wearer is slipped into the sleeve of the coat.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have illustrated a` modification which consists in the addition of continu.

ouslyextending outstanding vertical parallel ribs 16 which gradually increase in height toward and over the arch and lie intermediate the lines of perforations and which are integrally molded.

tended archformation; and the provision of the ribs also serves to afford grooves or channels into which the perforations open and which serve in conjunction therewith tomore completely pr vide for ventilation through the shield. Save for the addition of the ribs, the shield of Figs. 3 and 4 is similar in all respects to the construction first described.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a construction which is similar in all respects to that of Figs. 3 and 4 save for the addition of inserts `17 of hard rubber, Celluloid or the like, which are fitted into the ribsl and constitute in' effect the arch portions thereof. being each configured to constitute an unbroken continuationof lthe rib into whichv it is fitted. 'Ihe inserts are of arcuate formation, and each is pro-vided with an inwardly expanding lug or dowel 18, which is entered through the material of the bodyof the shield, or around which the body of the shield may be molded so as to prevent removal of the inserts. It is preferred to have the inserts located slightly off center above the arch so as topresent a pre# ponderance of surface toward that side of the shield which overlaps the body of the coat or other garment, in order to provide a smooth non-frictional surface over which the inner garments of the wearer may slip when inserting the arm into the sleeve of the coat. The inserts,

which are relatively stiff and smooth, serve both to reinforce the shield at the arch and to provide a smooth non-frictional surface throughout the entire length of the shield over the arch portion thereof.

In Fig. 7, I have shown another modification in whichihard? inserts are employed.. but in this instancethe inserts 191 are inthe form of double headed plugs which are entered throughv the material of the arch after the manner of rivets,

and protrude on the outside in the form of round ed bosses which afford non-frictional points of contact to assist in slipping the wearers arm into the coat sleeve, and at the same'timefto, assist in the ventilation of the shield.` As shown in.

Fig. 7, the continuity of the' ribbing'on' the sides of the shield is interrupted over the arch,` and` the inserts are there arranged in staggered relation andare` interspersed by the apertures l2, although: the' inserts and apertures might be otherwise relatively. arranged without material. variation inthe nature of theinvention.

The shield, all. of the forms illustrated.. is intendedrto: affordsuicient' resistance to collapse forded. particularlyv in the' arch. portion, and. by

makingithe'ribst continuousthroughout, air chan.- n'elsf are. maintained throughout the region be.- nea'tlrthearm pit, so* that the tendency" toI perspire isv reduced andthe comfort of the: wearer.v

insured. l

Although it iss desirable in molding: the: shield to.' afford'. sufficient thickness' of. rubberA or sim'- ilarr material' to render the shield self-sustainingthroughout'the archfportion; itisnot desirable tomenderth'e'shield unduly sti' or rigid, orv otherwiser toafford any' impediment to freedom. of movement ofthe wearers. arms, Or'tdmake the shield;v sufliciently' stiff tof in any way prove un'- comfortable..

I claim:

l1. A.' shield. of the character described, formed of' moisture-z proof rubberlikematerialy and: shaped.

to' provide side flaps. and a connectingl arch= portion, andithe` shield having formed on its outer surface: a plurality of ribs continuously; extending up one side and over. the arch' and down on the other side to furnish air channels andto reinforce` the archf portion of the shield against col'- lapse;

2.A A, shield of the character described,i formed of: moisture proof rubberlike material and shaped to provideside flaps and a. connecting. arch por.- tion,. andthe shield havingV formed on its1 outer surface a plurality of. ribs continuously extending upA one side and vover the arch and down on the other side to furnish air channels and to reinforce the arch portion of the' shield against collapse, the shield being provided' with rows of' perforationsbetween the ribs.

3. A shield of the character' described, formed ofmoisture-proof rubberlike material and shaped to'provi'de sideflaps' and a connecting arch por"- tion, and the shield having formed on its outer surface a plurality of ribs continuously extending up one side and over the arch and down on the other side to. furnish air channels: and to; reinforce the archv portion ofthe shield against collapse, the shield being provided with rows of perforations between the ribs, .said rows including perforations through the arch portion of the shield.' between the ribs.

4. A shield of the character described, formed of'. moisture proof rubberlike material molded to provide side. flaps and a connecting arch, the shield being provided with vertically extending spaced ribs, each rib extending continuously up one side and over the arch and down on'the other side to reinforce the archportion ,ofvthe shield against collapse, and the arch portions' of'v` the ribs beingafforded by relatively hard' smooth inserts to reduce friction.

5. A shield of 'the character described, formed' ofr moisture proof. rubberlike material molded to provide side` flaps and ak connecting arch, the'. shield being. provided with vertically extending spaced ribs, each'. rib extending, continuously up one side and over the arch and down on the other` side to reinforce the arch portion of the shield against collapse, and the arch portions ofI the ribs being afforded by relatively hard smooth insert's to reduce friction, thev shield between the. ribs being provided with rows of perforations;

6. A shield of the.. character described, formed' of moisture proof rubberlike material' molded to provide side flaps and a connecting arch, the. shield' being provided with vertically extending spaced. ribs,l each rib` extending` continuously up side to reinforce. the arch portion ofthe shield against'collapse, and the arch portions ofthe ribs being. affordedy by relatively hardv smooth inserts to reduce friction, the shield between theI ribs` being provided with rows of perforations extending through the side flaps and through the a-rch` portionsI of the shield.

7.. A shield, of, the. character described, formed to provide side flaps and a connecting. arch,.the arch being. provided with. relatively hard smooth outstanding inserts affording intervening channels over the arch. y

8. A shield of the character described, formed to provide sideflaps and.v a connecting arch the arch being. provided with relatively hard. smooth. outstanding. inserts,l affording intervening chan.- nels over the arch. and. the arch portion. of the shield. being4 provided. with. perforations. inter.- spersed between the inserts to. facilitate. ventilation in. conjunction therewith.

9. A shield of the character described, formed of moisture proof. rubberlike material molded to provide sideflaps anda connecting, arch, the arch. being provided withoutstanding protuberant. in sertsformed of relatively hard smooth material affording intervening channels` over the arch..

10. A. shield. of the character described,.formed of moisturev proof rubberlike material molded to. provide side flaps and aconnecting arch, the arch. being provided with outstanding protuberant inserts-formed ofv relatively hardsmooth` material. affordingv intervening. channels over the arch,.and the arch portion of the shieldl being provided. with perforations interspersed between the inserts.

HUGH G. DUGAN.

lil@

one side and over the arch and down on the other 

